After high, city Covid numbers go below 2,000

After high, city Covid numbers go below 2,000

Share In Daily Cases Dropped To 43%

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.07.2020

A day after its tally crossed one lakh, Tamil Nadu recorded 4,280 fresh Covid-19 cases on Saturday taking the total active cases to 44,956. The death toll rose to 1,450 with 65 more fatalities reported. This included 37 in Chennai, which pushed the city’s death toll to 1,033.

As the state shows a steady climb in new infections, Chennai dropped below 2,000 cases for the first time in days, registering 1,842 fresh cases. The total number of people still under treatment in the city is 24,195. Though the city has 62% share in the total number of cases, its share in the daily cases has dropped to 43%. Chennai's three neighbouring districts Chengalpet (215), Kanchipuram (134) and Tiruvallur (251) continued to register a sharp rise in cases, together adding 600 new cases and logging 11 deaths.

Epidemiologists indicated several other districts had started to show a spike in infections. These included Madurai (352 fresh cases), Ranipet (104), Ramanathapuram (149), Thiruvannamalai (173), Coimbatore (67), Tirunelveli (61), Virudhunagar (100), Tuticorin (64) and Trichy (83). This, experts had earlier pointed out, is the natural progression of the epidemic in the state. Virologists indicated that cases in the districts would rise a lot more before the Covid curve flattened in the state.

Among the total 65 deaths reported on Saturday, six had comorbidities. The oldest casualty was is a 92-old man from Ramanathapuram and the youngest a 29-year-old man from Chennai. Both had comorbidities. The report said three patients died a day before their Covid test results arrived.

On Saturday, 2,214 people left the hospital after successful treatment taking the total number of people discharged to 60,592 in the state.

Postponed Neet may leave many TN engg seats vacant

Postponed Neet may leave many TN engg seats vacant

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  05.07.2020

If engineering admissions in TN are to be conducted before Neet and JEE, it would leave hundreds of BE/ BTech seats vacant in top engineering colleges in 2020-21. Last year, on Anna University’s four campuses, more than 400 seats fell vacant due to students leaving their BE/BTech seats to join medical colleges. Experts warn that the new schedule may further increase such vacant seats.

According to the revised schedule released by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), the first round of counselling should be conducted before August 30 and classes should commence for first year studentson September 15. But, the Union HRD ministry has postponed National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Neet) and Joint Entrance Examinations (JEE) to September in view of Covid-19.

“The AICTE should conduct a meeting with all the state health secretaries before finalising the admission dates. Most of the colleges are functioning as quarantine centres. When cases are increasing, what is the hurry in opening the colleges," asks career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi, adding that the one week delay in conducting medical counselling last year had a big impact on Anna University as more than 400 students dropped out to join MBBS. “The present schedule will make it difficult for students to make decisions. The HRD ministry should make a collective decision withNTA,AICTE andstate governments,” he said.

Vice-chancellor of the university M K Surappa said, “If JEE and Neet exams shift to September and engineering admissions are conducted in August, then it will deal a big blow. More students will go to NITs, IITs and medical colleges after joining engineering colleges.”

The number of students migrating from engineering colleges to medical colleges increased after the Neet based admissions due to uncertainty in getting the medical admissions. SASTRA University vice-chancellor S Vaidhyasubramaniam asked the AICTE to allow 10% more students than the sanctioned strength. “If engineering admissions were conducted before IIT counselling, then more students will drop out from private institutions and deemed universities. The 10% extra seats would help top colleges and deemed universities to manage the dropouts,” he said.

R M Kishore, vice-chairman of RMK Engineering College, said the new admission schedule will lead to big loss to top colleges. “Last year we had 60-70 students dropping out of our college to join medical colleges. If more students leave this year it would hurt the colleges which are under severe financial stress. We are planning to approach AICTE to revise the admission schedule,” he said.

11-member panel to take call on semester exams

11-member panel to take call on semester exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  05.06.2020

The Tamil Nadu government on Saturday formed an 11-member committee to decide on semester examinations in college, amid indications that universities are mulling doing away with them.

Higher education secretary Apoorva will head the committee, which will work out modalities and adopt guidelines issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) for conducting semester exams. The committee includes vice-chancellors of seven state universities and three IAS officers - youth welfare and sports secretary, Tamil development and information secretary, and directorate of technical education commissioner.

The state universities under the higher education department are not in a position to conduct the semester exams in view of the pandemic Issuing the order setting up the committee, chief secretary K Shanmugam said it should give recommendations in the light of the UGC guidelines for conducting semester exams.

The union HRD ministry had asked the UGC to revisit its guidelines for the semester exams, final semester exams and academic calendar in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Sources said the semester exams are likely to be cancelled for students and marks may be awarded based on internal assessments. While Anna University is planning to hold semester exams online, other universities also have been considering alternate options.

“There are many challenges in holding online exams. If students are promoted without exams, a significant portion of final year students are having arrears. The committee may have to find solutions for these issues,” a college principal said.

Intense lockdown ends, but corpn won’t let guard down

Intense lockdown ends, but corpn won’t let guard down

Will Continue All Measures: Commissioner

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  05.06.2020

Greater Chennai Corporation will continue its fever clinics, quarantine management and contact tracing even as the intense lockdown comes to an end. “We will ensure all present systems work with more vigour and technological support,” said corporation commissioner G Prakash.

All activities such as 450 fever clinics, 3,500 focus volunteers, 11,800 fever surveillance workers, awareness and educational activities at slums will continue. “We are hopeful that even those who were scared to come out due to lockdown will attend fever clinics now. Our positivity rate is about 17% as on July 3 when we tested the maximum number of samples – 11,500. Of them, only 1,895 tested positive. Due to the lockdown, we also have a database of everyone under quarantine,” Prakash said.

In zones such as Tondiarpet, Thiru Vi Ka Nagar and Royapuram, survey of slums has been completed and almost all possible cases have been identified. Zonal monitoring officer of Thiru Vi Ka Nagar Arun Thamburaj said 90% of people wear masks and are aware of social distancing. K P Karthikeyan, zonal monitoring officer of Tondiarpet, said doctors and nurses are now visiting markets and streets with roadside shops to check people. “We are aware that after lockdown people will begin moving and to avoid new cases in specific areas, we will intensify measures,” he said.

Madhusudhan Reddy, joint commissioner, health, said amid the lockdown, the corporation has ensured 1,500 streets that had reported cases are now Covid free. “We plan to increase this number. We have identified almost all possible cases such as their contacts to ensure the spread is controlled. During the lockdown, we were able to fish out almost all cases. Thermal screening has helped us identify cases we may have missed. Now, we just need to continue the surveillance and ensure the quarantine management system works with 100% efficiency,” he said.

He added that there would be more challenges as the city opens. “But our information and community activities have helped create awareness. We are hopeful that people will follow norms to help curb new clusters,” he said.

Curbs off city from Monday, to continue in Madurai till July 12

Curbs off city from Monday, to continue in Madurai till July 12

All Big Stores To Work From 6am To 9pm

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.07.2020

With the intensive lockdown coming to an end on Sunday, the government has announced some relaxations from Monday for business establishments. Vegetable, grocery and tea shops (only parcel) in Greater Chennai Police limits can operate between 6am and 6pm. As regards Madurai corporation and neighbouring areas, intensive lockdown has been extended till July 12.

In a statement, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami said on Saturday that all showrooms and large format shops in Chennai and surrounding areas (including jewellery and textiles), except in shopping malls, would be allowed to function between 10am and 6pm. Restaurants will be permitted with only takeaway service between 6am and 9pm.

Food delivery services will be allowed till 9pm and delivery staff will have to wear identity cards. “With respect to other activities, the restrictions and relaxations that existed prior to June 19 will be applicable. I urge the public to extend full support to the government’s efforts,” Palaniswami said.

Certain restrictions and relaxations have also been announced for Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpet from July 6. Small temples in rural areas with annual income of less than ₹10,000, small mosques, darghas and churches for public worship are allowed.

4,280 cases, 65 deaths in state

A day after the TN tally crossed one lakh, the state recorded 4,280 fresh Covid-19 cases on Saturday taking the total active cases to 44,956. The death toll rose to 1,450 with 65 more fatalities. This included 37 in Chennai, which pushed the city’s death toll to 1,033. The total number of people still under treatment in the city is 24,195. P 6

24k cases, 608 deaths in a day

India recorded its highest single-day spike in Covid-19 cases as well as fatalities, with 24,201 fresh infections and 608 deaths reported on Saturday. This was the third straight day of record rise in infections as more than 23,500 cases were reported on Friday and over 22,000 the day before. India’s Covid-19 caseload has risen to 6,72,968, as per data collated from state governments. P 11

EASE OF MOVEMENT

Rental vehicles, taxis can ply with restrictions

All industries and export-oriented units, IT/ITES and all private offices are permitted to function with 100% strength. Tasmac shops are allowed from 10am to 8pm, while tea shops, restaurants, vegetable shops and grocery shops from 6am to 8pm.

The CM called on governor Banwarilal Purohit to brief him about the steps the state government was taking to contain the pandemic. He handed over a report on Covid-19 control measures to Purohit. It was the fourth meeting between the two since the lockdown started on March 24.

The state government had announced intense lockdown in Greater Chennai Police limits and in areas falling in Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram districts between June 19 and June 31 and it was later extended till July 5.

In an earlier order, the government said IT/ITES companies can operate with company-provided transport at 50% strength, subject to a maximum of 80 people in such offices from July 6. All private offices, industrial establishments and export-oriented units have been permitted to function at 50% strength.

Rental vehicles and taxis, including cab aggregators are permitted, but they cannot carry more than three passengers. Autorickshaws can carry only two passengers. Cycle rickshaws are also permitted. Barber shops, salons, spas and beauty parlours shall function as per standard operating procedure issued earlier. Fish stalls, chicken and other meat stalls and egg shops are permitted, provided they maintain physical distancing norms.

There is no need for pass for movement of vehicles within a district, however, for inter-district movement, e-pass is compulsory.

Industries and other establishments can use the e-passes issued by the district collectors before June 19 for inter-district movement of vehicles. Hence, people who already have passes, need not apply for new e-passes, the release said.

Madras High Court to work with full strength but virtually

Madras High Court to work with full strength but virtually

The decision was taken by the administrative committee of the High Court and will come into effect from Monday.

Published: 03rd July 2020 09:23 PM 

Madras High Court 

By Harish Murali

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Madras High Court on Friday decided to continue with the virtual court proceedings with its full strength. All the judges will carry out the hearings either in their court chamber or their residences. The decision was taken by the administrative committee of the High Court and will come into effect from Monday.

Since the lockdown, the court was functioning with only two division benches and four single judges hearing urgent matters through video conference. Even with these restrictions, at least six judges of the high court have tested positive for Covid 19 and are under treatment.

Members of the Bar sent a detailed representation on Wednesday to the Chief Justice for resuming the physical functioning of the courts. However, the administrative committee, headed by Chief Justice AP Sahi, decided to proceed with virtual court. It has been decided to function in full strength as the cases pending before the courts have increased.

The bar council in its letter sought for the opening of courts in a phased manner. The members said cases can be heard in a two-phased manner with physical hearing in the morning and video conference in the afternoon after obtaining the consent of both side advocates.

Court sources also said that after a few of the judges raised objections on the present video calling software, the court is set to explore other programmes for the effective functioning of the virtual courts.

During the last meeting held on June 22, the committee ordered for the physical functioning of district courts and also in the taluk level in 25 districts of the state where COVID-19 spread was comparatively less. The high court registry also in an internal circular to all its subordinate courts permitted the installation of a transparent screen in between the dais and advocates. The aim was to prevent the spread of Covid 19.

திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலையை மூடிய, 'கொரோனா'

திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலையை மூடிய, 'கொரோனா'

Added : ஜூலை 03, 2020 23:19

வேலுார்; துணை பதிவாளருக்கு கொரோனா உறுதியானதால், வேலுார் திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலைக்கழகம் மூடப்பட்டது.

வேலுார் திருவள்ளுவர் பல்கலைக்கழக துணை பதிவாளருக்கு, நேற்று கொரோனா தொற்று உறுதி யானது. அவர், வேலுார், சி.எம்.சி., மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளார்.பல்கலை பதிவாளர், சையத் ஷபி கூறியதாவது:துணை பதிவாளருக்கு கொரோனா உறுதியானதால், வரும், 17ம் தேதி வரை, பல்கலை மூடப்படுகிறது. இங்கு பணியாற்றி வரும் ஆசிரியர், ஊழியர்கள், ஆசிரியரல்லாத பணியாளர்கள், வீட்டிலிருந்தபடியே பணியாற்ற உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. மாணவர்களும் வர வேண்டாம் என அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டது.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.